Azerbaijan–Switzerland relations
{{Infobox bilateral relations
| title = Azerbaijani–Swiss relations
| party1 = Azerbaijan
| party2 = Switzerland
| map = Azerbaijan Switzerland Locator.png
| filetype =
| size =
| mission1 = Embassy of Azerbaijan, Bern
| mission2 = Embassy of Switzerland, Baku
| envoytitle1 = Ambassador
| envoy1 = Fuad Isgandarov[https://president.az/ru/articles/view/52600 Распоряжение Президента Азербайджанской Республики o назначении Ф.Э.Искендерова чрезвычайным и полномочным послом Азербайджанской Республики в Швейцарской Конфедерации]
| envoytitle2 = Ambassador
| envoy2 = Thomas Stähli[https://president.az/en/articles/view/61939 Ilham Aliyev accepted credentials of incoming ambassador of Switzerland]
}}
Foreign relations exist between Azerbaijan and Switzerland. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Bern as does Switzerland in Baku. Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
Economic cooperation
In November 1998, delegates of the two countries met and agreed to improve and expand their economic relations and the Swiss Government agreed to give a $US 50 million credit to Azerbaijan.{{cite news |title=Swiss envoy, Azeri officials agree to expand economic relations |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F98E72918F11ACC&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM< |work=Sharg |access-date=2009-05-29 |date=1998-11-16}}
Switzerland considers Azerbaijan an important country for economic development cooperation according to the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic AffairsState Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO, Economic Cooperation and Development. [http://www.seco-cooperation.admin.ch/laender/00627/index.html?lang=en Azerbaijan] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717020727/http://www.seco-cooperation.admin.ch/laender/00627/index.html?lang=en |date=2007-07-17 }}
The Azeri president has stressed the importance of the ties between the two nations.{{Cite web | url=http://www.today.az/print/news/politics/23615.html | title=Today.Az - President Ilham Aliyev received Micheline Calmy-Rey }}
An intergovernmental agreement on trade and economic cooperation was signed in Baku in October 2000.{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F97DF31555BF080&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |date=2000-10-30 |title=Azerbaijan, Switzerland sign economic cooperation agreement |access-date=2013-07-03}}
The Swiss Foreign Affairs minister visited the Azeri President in February 2006, where the two stressed the importance of their relationship.{{cite news |title=Azeri president, Swiss foreign minister discuss ties |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BBAB&d_place=BBAB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10FFBE5347B70D48&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=Azartac |access-date=2009-05-29 |date=2006-02-23}} During this visit, the focus was primarily on economic cooperation, however, the minister raised the issue of Azerbaijan's conflict with Armenia{{Cite web |date=2018-01-30 |title=Azerbaijan visit to address Karabakh conflict - SWI swissinfo.ch |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/azerbaijan-visit-to-address-karabakh-conflict/5032778 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130013650/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/azerbaijan-visit-to-address-karabakh-conflict/5032778 |archive-date=2018-01-30 |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=swissinfo}} This was followed by a visit by the Swiss Energy Minister in October 2007, after which an energy agreement was signed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rferl.org/content/Article/1093316.html|title = Caucasus: EU Seeks to Revitalize Contacts with Region}}
Further emphasis was placed on the relationship and further development made in a visit by the Swiss foreign affairs minister to Baku in May 2009,{{cite web|url=http://en.apa.az/news.php?id%3D102342 |title=APA - Switzerland apprises Azerbaijan of Turkey-Armenia talks held under his country's mediation |access-date=2009-05-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523024217/http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=102342 |archive-date=2009-05-23 }} where his Azeri counterpart said his country placed "great importance to boosting cooperation with Switzerland" and expressed hopes of deepening the existing bilateral ties.{{Cite web | url=http://www.today.az/news/politics/52390.html | title=Azerbaijani FM: It is impossible to ensure stability and security in the region unless the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is resolved }}
European Union
Switzerland has had a role in developing relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union, with Swiss officials advocating closer ties between the EU and Azerbaijan in order to provide energy security for Europe. Switzerland has also provided 'neutral ground' for Azeri officials to meet with delegates of Western organisations and governments.{{Cite web | url=http://www.today.az/print/news/business/42644.html | title=Today.Az - President Ilham Aliyev holds several meetings in Davos }}
Diplomacy
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/reps/eur/vaze/osebak.html Swiss embassy in Baku]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160109174359/http://azembassy.ch/ Azerbaijani embassy in Bern]
{{Foreign relations of Azerbaijan}}
{{Foreign relations of Switzerland}}
{{Portal bar|Politics|Switzerland|Azerbaijan}}
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